Maritime security to be key dialogue’s ‘primary agenda’

Maritime security in the Middle East will top the agenda of “Manama Dialogue 2019”, the international security summit Bahrain on November 22 and 24. New geo-economics of the Middle East, US policy and alliance relations in the Middle East, regional competition and co-operation, defence diplomacy and regional stability and managing conflict and stabilisation in the Middle East will be also addressed by participants in the annual dialogue organised by the International Institute for Strategic Studies (IISS).

Simultaneous sessions on November 24 will discuss cybersecurity: global and regional challenges, international law and security in the Middle East, greyzone warfare and asymmetric threats in the Middle East and conflict and stabilisation in the Middle East. The forum will conclude with a plenary session on the Middle East in a Global Context.

According to IISS, this year’s summit, the 15th to be held in Bahrain, will be attended by a diverse group of prime ministers, defence and foreign ministers, national security advisors, and military and intelligence chiefs. “The dialogue provides opportunities for government leaders to engage directly with the leading experts in the region, and facilitates private bilateral and multilateral meetings between participating states,” the IISS said.

The Manama Dialogue 2019 will also bring together young strategic thinkers from the Middle East and North Africa. The IISS Manama Dialogue Middle East and North Africa Young Leaders’ Programme (MDYLP) aims to provide young people with a forum at which they can air policy suggestions that address regional challenges.

It will enable young leaders to participate directly in the thinking behind and design of effective policies for the region. Using its network of researchers, the IISS - Middle East have identified 12 young leaders to participate as MDYLP delegates, from Bahrain, Egypt, Jordan, Kuwait, Oman, Saudi Arabia, and the UAE.